Desk and wall clock case



July 21, 1931. s, R PREVQSTZ 1,815,796

DESK AND WALL CLOCK CASE Filed Nov. 2, 1929 Patented July 21, 1931 OFliQE STER-ETT R. PREVOST, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSE I, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY KLEIN AND COMPANY, INC., OF ELllEI-IUBST, NEVT YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK DESK AND "WALL CLOCK CASE Application filed November 2, 1929. Serial No. 404,418.

n of the accompanying drawings illustrating vhat I now believe to be the prefer-rd mechanical expression or embodini of he invention from among other forms cons ructions and arrangements within the spirit and scope of the invention.

An object of the invention is to provide an upstanding ornamental article for a. desk, shelf, or the like, as exemplified by a clock holder or case, having an enlarged rearwardly and forwardly projecting attachable supporting base or pedestal, and to render such supporting base easily detachable to adapt the article, such as a clock case, hang vertically against a wall or other upright support.

With the foregoing and other objects view, the invention consists in certain no features of structure, combination or cc struction assembly and arrangement, as r fully described and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof:

Fig. 1 shows in front elevation. an up; ing desk ornament of my invention in h form of a clock case, the base portions thereo' being shown in section. v

Fig. 2 is an edge or side el vation of the clock case of Fig. l, the base portions thereof being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is an edge elevation of the clocl-z hung vertically against a wall, its supper I pedestal having been removed, th

head i base portions of the case heing shown v tical section.

4: is a top elevation of he V tions, in the nature of a horizontal sec-tie the line H, Fig 2-.

In the embodiment, illustrated by the drawings as an example for purposes of explanation and illustration, the small portable upstanding desk and wall ornament, is in the form and shape of a miniature grandfathers clock (although in all respects, I do not wish to so limit my invention) adapted to upstand in vertical position on a desk or other horizontal support and also adapted on removal of its main base, to hang vertically against a wall or other vertical support from a supporting nail, hook or other suspending supporting projection projecting forwardly from the wall.

A clock of the grandfathers type stands on the floor and is tall, narrow and ornamental, sometimes five or six feet in height. T he ornamental desk and wall ornament, illustrated, is usually some ten or twelve inches in vertical length with its other dimensions in proportion, where representing a miniatu e grandfathefls clock, and provides a clock case or holder 1, the head or upper end 1a, of which, provides a transverse horizontal socket or bore 2, opening through the front an d rear faces of the head 1a, to horizontally or transversely receive the clock assembly 2-3, and in which bore 2, the clock is secured so that the clock face and hands are properly displayed at the front of the case, and the winding and setting are arranged and accessible in a depression at the back of the case so that said keys are inset in the back without projecting beyond the vertical plane of the case ba ck surface, whereby the case can rest vertically against a wall when hung or supported vertically thereon. The back face it, of the long narrow case 1, forms a plane surface, or is flat and straight or vertical throughout its length and width above the main supporting base a, employed only to support the clock against easy tilting or upsetting, when standing in upright position. The case 1, is preferably a solid built-up substantially one-piece body of woodthe exposed front and edge surfaces of which are desirably finished or veneered to present ornamental wood surfaces in keeping with the clock type represented. The substantially one-piece or solid builtup structure also provides desirable weight to aid in maintaining the narrow upright structure against easy tilting when supported in upright position on its base. At the upper end of its vertical ack, the case can be provided with an attached loop or eye 5, to receive a hook, nail or pin secured to and projecting from the wall, by which the clock case can be suspended and supported in a vertical position against the wall.

The solid elongated body 1, of the ornament or clock case, is provided with a permanent base portion 6, typical of the ornamental base of a grandfathers clock. This permanent base 6, at its rear edge is flush with the vertical back surface of the body but at 115 ends and front projects laterally and forwardly beyond the general vertical planes of the and front of the body in carrying out the ical grand athers clock design. This case ortion 6 consists of a hori. 1 l n a 1 izontai block or piece or wood permanently secured to the end face the body 1, by glue and nails or other means, anu before being thus secured the wood block is recessed at its under side intermediate its end and longitudinal side portion to provide depending feet 6d, at it ends and lon itudinal rear witl the bottom surfaces of s Lid feet horizontal and flush or level. The block 6, is also rabbeted out or recessed at an intern'iediate portion of its top to form the intermediate longitudinal top socket or recess 60, and a longitudinal contracted or narrow slot 66, closed at its ends, is cut vertically through the floor of top recess 60, and opens into the bottom recess of the block 6. This slot 6?), is located about midway the width of the floor of top recess 6c, and about midway the front to rear width of said block 6.

lhe relatively wide long flat ornamental main supporting base 4, is provided to provide ample support for the narrow tall ornament, such as the clock case, against accidental tilting or falling over, and to firmly support the same in the desired upstanding position. This main base l, is substantially over wide as well as substantially over long with respect to the dimensions of the base portion 6, that carries out the design of the clock case, to project a substantial distance rearwardly beyond the vertical plane of the back surface of body 1, as well as substantial distance forwardly beyond the front of base portion 6, and laterally beyond the ends of said base portion. This main base 4, is in this example, formed by a relatively wide long flat piece of wood having a flat level bottom surface and a flat level top surface on which the level bottom surfaces of feet 6a rest to hold the upright clock case upstanding in a vertical or perpendicular position.

I provide any suitable detachable or separable connection, or broadly means whereby the main base is detachably held and coupled to the lower end or base portion of the body against play and looseness, to enable th main base to cooperate with the body in upholding and supporting the case in upright position for standing on a horiz-zontal support, and whereby the main base can be easily and quickly detacl ed by the a 'erage purchaser without mechanical skill or experience, to permit hanging the clock case in vertical position against a wall.

Various means and connections can be provided for this purpose, although in the drawings as an embodiment, from among others, I show an cXpansible-spring upwardly-contracting shouli'lercd coupling head fixed to and upstanding from an interinea'liate portion of the main base top, and adapted to enter the sock t in the body base portion 6, formed by the top an d bottom recesses and the contracted slot (3?), and expand in the top recess (30, above the door of recess to detachably lock the main base tightl against the body base portion 6, and approximately centered thereon, forming a concealed lock between the body end and the main base.

its an example I show this coupling head composed of one piece of resilient or spring metal, in approximate U-shape, providing a pair of oomph .entary upstanding resilient aced opposite walls having cori spmiding lower fiat portions 10, and outwardly bulged head or downwardly-facing shoulder forming portions 05!, terminating at the top in the spaced upwardly converging free edge portions 9?). These two upstanding walls are united by the flat central l ase portion 90, resting on the main base and fixedly secured thereon by any suitable means, such as fastenings 10d, passing down through the flat portion tic, into the wood main base i. The flat portions 10, form the neck of the coupling head, in thickness than the idth of the socket slot (3?), and in vertical length approximately equal to the vcrticil distance from the top face of main base i, to the top face of the floor of recesses (30, while the oppositely bulging wall portions 9?), of the oppositely enarged walls form the tapered top enlargement of the coupling head, of normal g greatcr width than the socket slot 6?), fori'ning opposite downwardly faced bevdled or incl shoulders to bear down on the floor of reos 60, at opposite sides of slot (3 5, and hold the top surface of main base 4;, tightly clamped the bottom edges of feet (5a, of the clock holder base portion, with the parts thus maintained together by the resiliency of the two walls held under tension against their tendency to spring apart to i'iornial rclatirc position sp ced a slightly greater distance turn when in the locking position shown. When in the locking position shown, the two walls of the contractile and expansible coupling head, are still a suflicient distance apart to permit the two walls to spring together a distance sullicient to e able the enlarged end of the coupling head to pass outwardly through socket slot 6?), and clear of body base portion 6, under application of the necessary separating force between base 4, and body The base l, is locked to the base portion t body 1, by bringing the base portion 6, and the main base 4, together with the tapered u per end of the contractile coupling head lip ting the slot 66, and then pressing the body and base together with the required force to contract the upper end of said head by the cam action of the slot edge walls on the con verging top edge portions of the spring walls of the head, to pass through slot (3?), and en:- pand above the same.

The upstanding contractile spring couoling head is elongated longitudinally of the main base l, as well as longitudinally of socket slot 6?), but the length 01 slot 66, preferably substantially exceeds the horizontal length of said contractile coupling head, to permit desirable centering of the body base 6, between the ends or the main base by relative sliding movement by application of the required force.

The elongated formation of the coupling head and socket slot 6?), maintains the parts against relative twisting movements and also assures the parallelism of the longitudinal edges of the body base portion and the main base, as well as the perpendicular position of the upstanding clock case with respect to the horizontal plane of the main base. The provision of the horizontally elongated contractile coupling head and its receiving socket in the clock case, avoids the necessity of two separate parallel small or cylindrical upstanding contractile or eXpansibl-e coupling heads, although the provision of several coupling heads is Within my invention.

It is evident that various changes, variations, additions and omissions, and modifications can be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope oi my invention and hence I do not wish to limit my invention, in all respects to the disclosure hereof, which is intended to be construed as explanatory and illustrative rather than limiting.

W hat I claim is 1. A decorative upstanding desk or wall article including a fixed bottom base portion, and at its rear adapted to rest in vertical position against a wall; a separable main base to support said article in upstanding vertical position against easy tilting, with said bottom base portion seated down on the intermediate surface of the main base top, said main base having greater top and bottom areas than the bottom area of said bot tom base portion and projecting horizontally forwardly and rearwardly beyond said bottom base portion; and detachable approximately concealed detachable coupling means between said base portion and said main base for separably locking said main base to said bran, gvfiltloll, whereby said main base can be manually detached from said article when the article is to be supported vertically against a wall.

2. A clock case approximately representing in miniature a clock of the grandi ather s type, including an ornamental fined bottom base portion recessed at its bottom, the rear side of said case formed to rest against a wall witn the case in vertical position; and a relatively long wide separable fiat main base for said case on which said base portion fits with the main base extending forwardly and rearwardly beyond said base portion to supp rt th case in upstanding position against easy tilting; said portion having an intermedate vertical socket open at its lower end through the recessed bottom of said portion; said base having a vertically elongated upstanding in termediate enpansible spring coupling meinber fixed thereto to detachably enter and ex pa d in sair socket to normally lock said main base to said base portion in operative relation to said case and whereby said main base can be separated from the case when the case is to be supported vertically against a wall.

8. An upst anding decorative article having a transverse fired bottom l ase portion forming the decorative lower end of the article. said bottom base portion having an inter mediate vertical slot and upwardly facing internal shoulders on opposite sides of the upper end of said slot; and a separable relatively long wide main base for saic article having an elongated wide contractile and e):-

pansible spring coupling device fixed to and upstanding from an intermediate portion of the top of said base and adapted to be forced into said slot and thereby contracted and to expand over said shoulders and thereby lock said base against the under side of said portion and in operative supporting position on said article, said base with its coupling device being separable from said portion.

4i. In combination, two complementary separable members, one of said members having an internal chamber, and an entrance slot through an intermediate portion of one side thereof at its inner end opening into said chamber and thereby providing fixed opposite shoulders; the other member having an upstanding wide laterally expansible and contractile coupling device fixed thereto and adapted to be forced through said slot and thereby tra sversely contracted and to then egrpand over said shoulders and thereby detachably lock said members together, said members being separable under separating pull to cause contraction of said device and outward passage from the shoulders and slot; said coupling device having a shank and free end enlar ed head and embodying a base fixed to the member carrying said device, said base having a pair of spaced upstanding spring walls, the normally spaced free end portions of said walls ofiset outwardly in opposite directions to form said head.

5. In combination, two complementary separable members, one of said members having a bevelled coupling head and its shank, fixed to an intermediate portion of a side face thereof and embodying a spring plate forming a base having a pair of spaced upstanding free-end spring Walls forming the shank, and the free end portions of said walls providing the laterally enlarged expansible and contractile coupling head; the other member formed at one side to fit said side face of the member carrying said coupling head, and at an intermediate portion of said side providing a coupling socket to receive said coupling head, said socket having an internal chamber, and a rela ively narrow entrance slot to receive said shank and for the passage of said head when contracted, said chamber adapted to receive the expanded head, a pair of fixed separated parallel shoulders being provided in said chamber atopposite sides of said slot to abut the inner side of said head.

Signed at Elizabeth, county of Union, State of New Jersey, this 29th day of October, 1929.

STERETT B. PREVOST. 

